Wes’ 2014 NFL Mock Draft

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It’s nearly that time of year again! As the old saying goes, “the NFL season never ends”, and in a few weeks 32 teams will attempt to bolster their teams for a chance to make a run at the Lombardi Trophy in February of 2015. The NFL has become an event not just for coaches and front office people of NFL teams, but fans of NFL teams flock to Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the annual draft.

So I have decided to write up my annual Mock Draft. This season I will also give you the mock drafts from some of the top NFL websites in the Internet. So without further ado, here’s my picks;

Legend:

BR- Bleacher Report

Mel- Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN

CBS- Pete Prisco (Senior writer for cbssports.com)

NFL- Charles Davis (Analyst for nfl.com)

Wes- My picks

1. Houston Texans

BR- Jadaveon Clowney

Mel- Khalil Mack

NFL- Jadaveon Clowney

CBS- Blake Bortles

Wes- Jadaveon Clowney, DE/South Carolina - 6’7”, 265 pounds: Imagine Clowney and J.J. Watt at each end of the defensive line. The Texans need a quarterback, but with Clowney’s size and speed. the Texans can’t afford to let him go with the No. 1 pick.

2. St. Louis Rams

BR- Greg Robinson

Mel- Greg Robinson

NFL- Sammy Watkins

CBS- Greg Robinson

Wes- Greg Robinson, OT/Auburn - 6’5”, 320 pounds: The Rams need help almost everywhere, but keeping QB Sam Bradford upright and healthy is their number one priority, so taking the best offensive lineman in the entire draft makes sense.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

BR- Teddy Bridgewater

Mel- Jadaveon Clowney

NFL- Khalil Mack

CBS- Jadaveon Clowney

Wes- Khalil Mack, OLB-DE/Buffalo - 6’3”, 247 pounds: A month ago I would have the Jags taking Teddy Bridegwater, but since then Teddy had a less than stellar performance at Louisville’s Pro Day. The Jags could go with UCF’s Blake Bortles here, but their last two first round QB picks have been duds. Here they will take perhaps the best pure pass rusher in the draft and a possible future pro bowler for many years to come. I just wish he would be around for the Falcons at No. 6.

4. Cleveland Browns

BR- Sammy Watkins

Mel- Blake Bortles

CBS- Sammy Watkins

NFL- Teddy Bridgewater

Wes- Sammy Watkins, WR/Clemson - 6’1”, 205 pounds: The Browns could very well take a QB here, but again they have been spurned by taking a QB early in the draft. I think they take the speedster in Watkins, hopefully they can find someone through Free Agency or later in the draft that will throw him the ball. The Browns really need more than this one pick can offer.

5. Oakland Raiders

BR- Khalil Mack

Mel- Bridgewater

CBS- Mike Evans

NFL- Greg Robinson

Wes- Teddy Bridgewater, QB/Louisville - 6’3”, 196 pounds: The Raiders have signed Matt Schaub to play QB, but for how long. I like the Raiders taking a QB here, but my pick would be Bortles. The Raiders like to take the risky players, so Bridgewater seems fitting for the Black and Silver.

6. Atlanta Falcons

BR- Jake Matthews

Mel- Jake Matthews

CBS- Khalil Mack

NFL- Jake Matthews

Wes- Jake Matthews, OT/Texas A&M - 6’5”, 305 pounds: I really hope Pete Prisco from CBS knows what he is talking about with Mack still being there for the Falcons. I honestly think Atlanta may trade up to make a run for Clowney or Mack, but I can’t predict trades. With that said, the Falcons could take Anthony Barr as a pass rusher, but his stock has fallen over the last few weeks. The Dirty Birds need to protect Matty Ice, so they take the second best offensive lineman in Jake Matthews. The 6’5 beast comes from great NFL stock, his father Bruce Matthews was an 18-year veteran and is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

BR- Mike Evans

Mel- Sammy Watkins

CBS- Johnny Manziel

NFL- Johnny Manziel

Wes- Blake Bortles, QB/Central Florida - 6’4”, 229 pounds: The Bucs feel like the luckiest team in the world when Bortles falls to them at No. 7, while Tampa could take the big WR Mike Evans from Texas A&M, they take Bortles from right up the road in Orlando.

8. Minnesota Vikings

BR- Johnny Manziel

Mel- Johnny Manziel

CBS- Teddy Bridgewatwer

NFL- Blake Bortles

Wes- Johnny Manziel, QB/Texas A&M - 6’1”, 209 pounds: The flamboyant “Johnny Football” take his talents up north to Minnesota. Just too bad for Johnny that he will have to adjust to the cold weather, as the Metrodome is no more.

9. Buffalo Bills

BR- Eric Ebron

Mel- Tyler Lewan

CBS- Eric Ebron

NFL- Mike Evans

Wes- Mike Evans, WR/Texas A&M - 6’5”, 225 pounds: Evans becomes the third Aggie to be drafted in the first nine picks. Evans has huge size and perhaps the best hands of anyone in the draft. He becomes the next big time receiver named Evans to play for the Bills (Lee Evans).

10. Detroit Lions

BR- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Mel- Mike Evans

CBS- Justin Gilbert

NFL- Justin Gilbert

Wes- Justin Gilbert, CB/Oklahoma State - 6’0”, 201 pounds: The Lions have plenty of offensive fire power and they have become better defensively against the run with the like of Suh, but they could use some help in the secondary, and that’s why they take the top corner back in the draft in Gilbert. He has good size, great leaping ability, and is physical which is a must with the NFL WRs these days.

11. Tennessee Titans

BR- Justin Gilbert

Mel- Anthony Barr

CBS- Anthony Barr

NFL- Anthony Barr

Wes- Anthony Barr, OLB-DE/UCLA - 6’4”, 247 pounds: At one point this past Winter, Barr was seen by some as the top pick in the draft. Since then his stock has dropped due to teams thinking he could be a “tweener”, not sure if he is a LB or a DE. However, he is a tremendous athlete for the Titans who need a lot of help on defense.

12. New York Giants

BR- Aaron Donald

Mel- Eric Ebron

CBS- Jake Matthews

NFL- Tyler Lewnan

Wes- Ha Ha Clinton Dix, FS/Alabama - 6’1”, 207 pounds: I started to put Ebron here for the Giants, giving Manning a huge target at TE, but I think the Giants need help in the secondary, and Clinton-Dix is one of the better FS in the draft.

13. St. Louis Rams

BR- Darqueze Denard

Mel- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

CBS- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

NFL- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Wes- Eric Ebron, TE/North Carolina - 6’4”, 245 pounds: After taking Robinson to help keep Bradford upright, nor they give him a huge target and down field threat from the TE position with Ebron. He probably had the best hands of anyone in the ACC, including wide receivers.

14. Chicago Bears

BR- Timmy Jernigan

Mel- Aaron Donald

CBS- Aaron Donald

NFL- Timmy Jernigan

Wes- Timmy Jernigan, DT/Florida State - 6’2”, 298 pounds: Jernigan moves like a defensive end with a defensive tackle body. I think the Bears get a steal with the former Seminole.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

BR-Kony Ealy

Mel- Justin Gilbert

CBS- Bradley Roby

NFL- Darqueze Denard

Wes- Taylor Lewan, OT/Michigan - 6’8”, 315 pounds: The Steelers grab up the behemoth Lewan to help protect Big Ben. They could go defense here also, but their OL is getting a little long in the tooth.

16. Dallas Cowboys

BR- Anthony Barr

Mel- Timmy Jernigan

CBS- Timmy Jernigan

NFL- Calvin Pryor

Wes- Darqueze Denard, CB/Michigan State - 5’11”, 196 pounds: The former Twiggs County Cobra was a First Team All-American this past season at MSU. His only knock is his height, but the physical corner has outstanding leaping ability which makes up for any lack of height. Personally I like Denard better than Gilbert from Oklahoma State. The Cowboys can’t let Denard pass them by.

17. Baltimore Ravens

BR- Kyle Fuller

Mel- Brandin Cooks

CBS- Taylor Lewan

NFL- Eric Ebron

Wes- Bradley Roby, CB/Ohio State - 5’11”, 192 pounds: Gilbert will be long gone and I think Denard will also, so the Ravens look to bolster their secondary with the third best corner back in the draft. They could Calvin Pryor or C.J. Mosley here too.

18. New York Jets

BR- Odell Beckham, Jr.

Mel- Brandin Cooks

CBS- Odell Beckham, Jr.

NFL- Odell Beckham, Jr.

Wes- Brandin Cooks, WR/Oregon State - 5’10”, 185 pounds: While Cooks isn’t your prototypical WR, he runs a 4.33 in the 40 and could be dangerous in the slot. The Jets need someone who can stretch the field and Cooks fits the bill. Beckham, Jr could be another possibility, but he has had his problems with drops.

19. Miami Dolphins

BR- Zack Martin

Mel- Zack martin

CBS- C.J. Mosley

NFL- Zack Martin

Wes- Zack Martin, OT/Notre Dame - 6’4”, 305 pounds: If any pick in this draft is a “no brainer” it’s this one. Someone needs to keep Tannehill off the ground and Martin is the best available option for the fins.

20. Arizona Cardinals

BR- Blake Bortles

Mel- Darqueze Denard

CBS- Calvin Pryor

NFL- Bradley Roby

Wes- Calvin Pryor, FS/Louisville - 6’2”, 207 pounds: The Cardinals were horrible last season against the pass and Pryor fills a need in the middle of the first round. A solid pick for the Cards.

21. Green Bay Packers

BR-Jimmie Ward

Mel- C.J. Mosley

CBS- Ryan Shazier

NFL- Cooks

Wes- Odell Beckham, Jr, WR/LSU - 6’0”, 194 pounds: Beckham, Jr set the SEC on fire over the last two years. He has the ability to go the distance any time he touches the ball. Not the best route runner, but his upside is worth the slight risk and with James Jones signing with Oakland, he will be like a present under the tree on Christmas for Aaron Rodgers.

22. Philadelphia Eagles

BR- Calvin Pryor

Mel- Calvin Pryor

CBS- Teddy Bridgewater

NFL- C.J. Mosley

Wes- C.J. Mosley, ILB/Alabama - 6’2”, 238 pounds: The Eagles need help everywhere on the defensive side of the ball. They could go for help in the secondary here, but I think Mosley fills a need and would be a great pick up for Philly.

23. Kansas City Chiefs

BR- Brandin Cooks

Mel- Marqise Lee

CBS- Jimmie Ward

NFL- Kelvin Benjamin

Wes- Marqise Lee, WR/USC - 6’0”, 195 pounds: The Kansas City Chiefs had one of the better defenses last season, but could have used some help on offense. Lee brings the Chiefs a quality WR with good hand. His isn’t a speed burner (4.52 in the 40), but makes up for it with toughness and great route running.

24. Cincinnati Bengals

BR- Jason Verrett

Mel- Ryan Shazier

CBS- Kyle Fuller

NFL- Dee Ford

Wes- Stephon Tuitt, DE/Notre Dame - 6’6”, 305 pounds: A complete run stuffer from the defensive end position, and also has a quick first step off the edge. He remains in the mid west and the Bengals take a chance on the huge defensive end. Tuitt is from Georgia and played at Monroe Area High School.

25. San Diego Chargers

BR- Bradley Roby

Mel- Bradley Roby

CBS- Louis Nix

NFL- Marqise Lee

Wes- Kelvin Benjamin, WR/Florida State - 6’5”, 243 pounds: Benjamin is huge and runs a 4.5 in the 40 which is amazing for a guy nearly 250 pounds. His work ethic is questionable, but could you imagine Keenan Allen on one side and Benjamin on the other. I can, and so can the Chargers.

26. Cleveland Browns

BR-Derek Carr

Mel- Kelvin Benjamin

CBS- Jason Verrett

NFL- Xavier Su’A-Filo

Wes- Derek Carr, QB/Fresno State - 6’3, 215 pounds: The Browns passed on four quarterbacks after getting Watkins with the fourth pick, now they get their QB in Derek Carr. For the Browns sake, I just hope he is better than bis brother David.

27. New Orleans Saints

BR- Dee Ford

Mel- Dee Ford

CBS- Dee Ford

NFL- Kyle Fuller

Wes- Dee Ford, DE/Auburn - 6’2”, 240 pounds: Ford really helped his stock with a great 2013. His speed off the edge will be a welcomed sight for the Saints and their porous defense.

28. Carolina Panthers

BR- Taylor Lewan

Mel- Cyrus Kouandio

CBS- Morgan Moses

NFL- Jarvis Landry

Wes- Cyrus Kouandjio, OT/Alabama - 6’6”, 305 pounds: With Steve Smith departed from the Panthers, they need another WR, and they could make a move for Jarvis Landry out of LSU. However, Landry could be their in the second round and if not they can find someone with a similar skill set. I think they take the mammoth Kouandjio to help protect Cam Newton.

29. New England Patriots

BR- Brandon Thomas

Mel- Ra’Shede Hageman

CBS- Ra’Shede Hageman

NFL- Louis Nix

Wes- Ra’Shede Hageman, DT/Minnesota - 6’6, 315 pounds: With Vince Wilfork out of the picture, the Pats draft a player they can plug in immediately.

30. San Fransisco 49ers

BR- Davante Adams

Mel- Kyle Fuller

CBS- Stanley Jean-Baptiste

NFL- Ra’Shede Hageman

Wes- Jason Verrett, CB/TCU - 5’10”, 176 pounds: Varrett has talent to be a top 20 pick in this draft, but his smallish size makes him drop to the 49ers which has a defense that just gets better and better.

31. Denver Broncos

BR- C.J. Mosely

Mel- Kyle Fuller

CBS- Kyle Van Noy

NFL- Jason Verrett

Wes- Kyle Fuller, CB/Virginia Tech - 6’0”, 194 pounds: Fuller’s draft stock is on the rise and is now a probably first round pick. He ran a 4.49 in the 40 yard dash and could go as high as 20. I think the Broncos get their next Champ Bailey with this physical corner.

32. Seattle Seahwaks

BR- Kelvin Benjamin

Mel- Stephon Tuitt

CBS- Marqise Lee

NFL- Aaron Donald

Wes- Aaron Donald, DT/Pittsburgh - 6’0”, 285 pounds: Donald moves well for a big man on the defensive line. He is a little undersized at his position, but his motor never stops, something Pete Carroll will love.

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